This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.25

First Impressions
Fragile Sanctuary is the first book in Cowles newest series so I can't tell you how excited I was to finally be able to finally get to this one. It did take me a bit longer than I would have preferred to get this review out to you, so I do apologize for that. Fragile Sanctuary, was a book that was hinted at in the last book of her previous series, and I was really fascinated to see how she would develop this story here and she really knocked it out of the park, especially the suspense elements that are a part of the series. I do love that she is becoming a bit stronger with suspense with each series. She isn't quite "romantic suspense" yet, but she is definitely getting there.

First Line
"What was it like" Fallon whispered as the SUV bounced along the gravel road.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Anson
The Heroine: Rhodes

What I Loved
Fragile Sanctuary had such sweet overtones to it that just tugs you into the heart of the story so quickly. From the very beginning, I was so in tune with these characters. Both Rhodes and Anson have suffered their own types of pain and heartache and you see how their tortured halfs just connect so completely with each other. I was so drawn into these two and how much they need each other. And this story is a perfect example of how opposites truly find balance within each other. Anson is so grump and mean and he doesn't like people at all. Then we have Rhodes, who is sweet and kind and so loveable. She just wants to have love in her sphere of community. And even though these two couldn't be more different from each other, there is a type of emotional intimacy of understanding of pain that grows between them. I did appreciate how the suspense elements were handled in the story. It was one of my favorite aspects of "Fragile Sanctuary" I was so easily drawn into this book and what worked for them here for the danger elements. You could easily feel the tension from it being slowly built into the story and it was fascinating to see who was the true villain and boy did she shock me here.

What I Struggled With
Even though there were many aspects to this story I did love, I just wasn't a fan of the angst between the couple. It just felt off kilter for them and didn't quite jive with the rest of the story. There was no warning of this at all. So I just wasn't prepared for the level of angst that wa blended into the story. I know it will work for many readers, but I am very picky and selective in how angst is done, and it definitely could have been done better. Its definitely not Cowles greatest strength.

Narration
BRILLIANT!!! If you can do this author's books in audio, I beg of you, please do so, because she picks the best narrators to bring out only the best in her books!

Overall View
Fragile Sanctuary is a story that will tug you in moments that you least expect, take you on a adventure you won't see coming, pack in deep emotion to dig deep into your heart and leave you breathless but satisfied in the end!

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance
Character Types: Grumpy Hero, Jerk Hero, Ex Law Enforcement
Themes: Small Town, Tear Jerker, Danger/Suspense, Heart/Touching,

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A blend

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Kristen Proby
Elsie Silver
Jennifer Ryan

Song This Book Inspires
No Running From Me by Toulouse

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.

Narrators:
Zachary Webber
Andi Arndt ( )